4 men sentenced to federal prison after a man died from drug overdose

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Four men have been sentenced for trafficking narcotics, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

McAllen residents 31-year-old Gabriel Ortiz, 53-year-old Francisco Ortiz, 62-year-old Adbento Guerrero, and Edinburg resident 42-year-old Alonzo Rolando Garza pleaded guilty.  

During an investigation that took place during 2019 and 2020, it was revealed that four men were trafficking cocaine in the McAllen and Edinburg areas, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The men would purchase and sell multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and smaller amounts of crack.

In November 2020, Gabriel Ortiz sold approximately three grams of crack to a 53-year-old man who later died after using the narcotic, the release stated.

Throughout the investigation, authorities seized 22 pounds of cocaine and 115 pounds of crack, which had an estimated street value of $260,000.

“Gabriel Ortiz and his co-conspirators, with their irresponsible and criminal behavior, directly caused the death of a human being,” said U.S. Attorney Almadar Hamdani.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Gabriel to serve 12 years and Francisco was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

"Guerrero and Garza previously received 30 and 120 months, respectively," said Hamdani.

All four men must also serve two five years of supervised release following their sentences, the release stated.